Meat Terminology

What exactly does “grass-fed” mean anyway?

1. AGA-CERTIFIED GRASS-FED

Taking the USDA standards to a higher level. Grown and produced in the U.S.A. Grass fed from wean to harvest and never given antibiotics or hormones, certified by a third party audit and farm visit every year.

2. GRASS-FED

Fed nothing but grass from weaning to harvest. Could be imported and no guarantee it wasn’t given antibiotics or hormones, not certified or verified.

3. ORGANIC

Raised without antibiotics or synthetic hormones, pesticide and herbicide free, however the feed can be grain based, and contains no GMOs.

4. GRAIN-FED

Fed grain at some point and comes from a large or a small farm. Animals can be confined and given hormones or antibiotics.

5. NATURALLY-RAISED

Never been fed animal by-products, growth hormones, or antibiotics. Could be fed grain or grass and confined. Not certified or verified, meaninless terminology. Self-made claim.

6. NATURAL

No artifical ingredients or added color and minimal processing. Nothing to do with how the animal was raised or fed. Even E. Coli is “natural.”